“You want another one?”
“I’m fine. What about the decapitation part?”
“That’s easy.” She put the glass on the serving cart and walked over to her gym bag to remove another katana. The handle was red and gold in color with a symbol carved below the handguard. “You can use this one of two ways.” Casey took a stance to demonstrate. “Lifting the head, you place the blade underneath the chin and quickly go from ear to ear until the head falls from the shoulders.”
“And the other way?”
The vampire took the blade and raised it high above her head. “The other way is to strike at the neck. Sort of like swinging a baseball bat, but you have to follow through, like this.” Her strikes were swift and certain. “The blade is razor sharp, so you shouldn’t have a problem. Get up and try it.”
Barry, still shaking, got up from the floor and took the katana from Casey. She stepped back to give him room to try a couple of practice strikes.
“See, you’re getting the hang of it.”
“This is weird,” he swung again.
“What is?”
“The sword. It feels alive.”
“It was handcrafted by the best sword master who ever lived. It’s an interesting story, but legend has it part of her soul is inside the blade. And I believe it.”
“Her?” he questioned, striking again.
“My teacher was a woman. She gave me the sword after I completed my training. It’s been passed down through generations.”
Lightheaded, Barry stopped and walked over to the chair to sit down. He took a moment to think. Did she say ‘training’?
“Give it a few minutes and you’ll be as good as new. Let me get cleaned up and we’ll be on our way.”
“Where are we going?”
“Where else? My family reunion.”
Chapter 8
After placing the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, Barry walked down the hallway and entered the elevator with Casey, who had her duffel bag in tow. “Sure you don’t want me to carry that?”
“I’ll manage,” she said. “But I appreciate the offer.”
When they arrived at the lobby, the doors opened and chaos greeted the pair. The security guard, Mr. Ryan, and more than a dozen people, most of them police officers, had gathered near the hotel registration desk. A woman was clutching a rag doll while a man who appeared distraught with grief held her in his arms. The security guard answered a call on his cell phone, while a plainclothes detective stood next to them, holding up a picture and giving instructions.
“Listen up. An Amber Alert has been issued for Lashonda Saunders, who disappeared over an hour ago. African-American female, eight years old, stands a little over four feet tall. Cover the parking lot, the pool, knock on doors, and do whatever it takes, but find her.”
Mr. Ryan, still on his cell phone, walked to his office. The uniformed officers paired off and separated, leaving the detective with the grieving parents in the lobby. Barry watched the first pair of police officers walking toward him.
“What happened, officer?”
“Mom and dad were getting ready to check out and their daughter disappeared. Doll was found in the parking lot. Have you two noticed anything suspicious going on?”
“We just got here. Did the security cameras pick up anything?” asked Casey.
“Nothing,” replied the other officer. “Whoever took her sure knew what they were doing. If you’ll excuse us.”
“Sure, and thanks.” Barry watched the officers walk down the hall and turn the corner.
“Let’s go.”
“Go? Go where?” Barry turned around.
“We’re leaving.”
“Are you kidding? Didn’t you hear what he said?”
“I heard, but it’s not our concern.”
Surprised, Barry couldn’t believe her callousness. “An eight-year-old girl has been kidnapped. Can’t you do something with those tracking skills of yours?”
Annoyed, she replied, “My abilities are limited in daylight.”
“Casey, we have to try. Look at them. We can’t just walk away.”
The vampire stood motionless. Barry wished he could read her mind, but he couldn’t see her eyes through her sunglasses. He hoped she would do the right thing.
“Follow me.”
They walked to the registration desk and stood in front of a courtesy computer.
“See if Lubbock has a museum,” she requested.
Barry didn’t understand.
“Just do something with the computer while I listen,” Casey whispered.
That he understood. He used the touch-screen computer to look up museums, movie theatres, and bookstores. Barry could hear the despair in the parents’ voices.
The detective tried to console them while asking questions and getting more information. Seeing the quick action of Lubbock’s finest brought back memories of his dad’s disappearance.
The research for his term paper had revealed one disturbing fact. It wasn’t illegal for an adult to go missing. Children, yes, but not adults. The laws were different in every state. Thankfully, Texas had laws making it possible to file a missing person’s report at any time. Most states didn’t, and many families of missing loved ones paid the price.
Barry would’ve loved for his dad to have been given the same courtesy and respect they were showing Lashonda.
Casey broke his train of thought. “Come on.”
Together they walked out the front and stopped at the valet stand, where she handed the valet a ticket. “How long to get my car?”
“About ten minutes or less. There are two in front of you.”
“We’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Barry followed Casey to the east end of the building. After turning the corner, they walked to a larger parking lot. The hotel’s long shadow almost reached the main highway, thanks to the setting sun. Two security cameras on the light poles were turned away from the building.
She handed him her duffel bag. “Stay here,” the vampire instructed.
Barry watched her take off her sunglasses and look up into blue sky. With her eyes closed, she turned her head left and right. Then Casey walked out to the far end of the parking lot and looked down at the pavement. She bent down, touched the asphalt, and brought her hand up to her nose. A few moments later, Casey stood up and walked back to Barry.
“Anything?”
“I’m not sure. I picked up her scent from the doll her mother was holding. She was here, but her trail ends over there.” Casey pointed to the far end of the parking lot.
“What’s that on your fingers?”
“Antifreeze,” she answered. “Whoever took her is driving a car with a leaky radiator. They were parked down there.”
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
“No and that’s what bothers me.”
“What do you mean?” From the look on Casey’s face, Barry felt her concern.
“I’m only picking up Lashonda and the antifreeze.